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January's Must-Attend Events for Entrepreneurs and the Self-Employed in Austria (In-person & Online)

Now that the initial buzz of January has settled and your 2026 goals are firmly on paper, it’s time to shift from planning to action.


The period between January 14 and January 31 is surprisingly high-density, offering a wealth of opportunities for entrepreneurs and the self-employed in Austria. Whether you’re looking to secure fresh funding from the Vienna Business Agency, explore the "agentic" future of AI, or simply find ways to make your business more resilient in a tricky economy, there is a seat waiting for you.



Most events are hosted in English or at least offer clear English guidance. If the language is not mentioned, it is a good idea to check with the organizers to make sure everything works for you.

We hope this guide helps you kick off the year with fresh insights, stronger connections, and plenty of inspiration!



How to Run Your Business during a Difficult Financial Climate


Date & Time: Jan 14, 2026 | 17:00 – 18:30

Organiser: Self-employed in Austria

Format: Online (Zoom)

Summary: From managing cash flow and renegotiating costs to rethinking your offers and marketing, you’ll leave with clear next steps, practical strategies, and a leaner, more resilient business mindset.




Idea to Impact Business



  • Date & Time: Jan 14, 2026 | 16:00 – 18:00

  • Format: In-person (Impact Hub Vienna, Lindengasse 56) 

  • Organiser: Impact Hub Vienna

Summary: A hands-on workshop for entrepreneurs starting with an idea. It focuses on value propositions, identifying first customers, and building a business model that reflects social impact purpose.



Startup Investment Academy - Free Webinar



  • Date & Time: Jan 14, 2026 | 09:00 – 10:00 

  • Format: Online Webinar 

  • Organiser: JET Growth

Summary: An info call for founders looking to understand the startup investment landscape and prepare for future funding rounds.



Kick Off Event: RIVCircular Funding Calls


  • Date & Time: Jan 14, 2026, 15.00 - 16.00

  • Format: Online (Zoom)

  • Organiser: Vienna Business Agency (VBA) 

Summary: Information session on new funding calls for circular economy projects in Vienna.



Q&A Creative Industries Funding


  • Date & Time: Jan 16, 2026, 10.00 - 11.30

  • Format: Online (Teams) 

  • Organiser: Vienna Business Agency (VBA) 

Summary: Targeted Q&A for freelancers and small agencies in the creative sector seeking public grants for transformation projects





Live Masterclass: AI-Powered Automation for Marketers



  • Date & Time: Jan 21, 2026 | 15:00 

  • Format: Online 

  • Organiser: Digital Marketing Institute (DMI) 

Summary: A tactical session on integrating AI into marketing workflows, covering automated content planning, CRM data, and reporting.




State of AI 2026 (SOA26)



  • Date & Time: Jan 22, 2026 | 02:15 GMT

  • Format: In-person (Impact Hub Vienna)

  • Organiser: The Centre for Youth and International Studies (CYIS) 

Summary: A high-level discussion on the evolving AI landscape in Austria and Europe, bridging technical innovation with market trends.





Expert Session | Get funding, get help, get moving!


  • Date & Time: Jan 23, 2026 | 10:00 – 12:00

  • Format: Online (Zoom)

  • Organiser: AustrianStartups / FFG

Summary: 1-on-1 sessions with FFG experts to review funding programs, eligibility, and application timelines for research and innovation projects.





January 2026 Meetup for the Self-Employed in Austria (Vienna)



  • Date & Time: Jan 27, 2026 | 18:00

  • Format: In-person (Location TBD)

  • Organiser: Self-employed in Austria

Summary: Join your fellow self-employed in Austria for an evening of real conversations about our projects, businesses, and self-employment challenges. Expect genuine connections, practical ideas, and takeaways you can actually use.




CIMIx 2026 | The Transformation Edition


Summary: The flagship international event for the creative industries. This year’s edition focuses on business transformation, creative financing models, and cross-sectoral collaboration between creative talents and traditional industry players.



AgentCon Vienna 2026



  • Date & Time: January 29, 2026 | 13:00 – 19:00

  • Format: In-person (Prisma | by Lumia, Vienna)

  • Organiser: Global AI Community Vienna / Microsoft Global Community Initiative

Summary: Part of a world tour for developers and innovators, this event focuses on the "agentic" future of AI. It includes technical deep dives into autonomous AI agents, MCP servers, and agentic engineering for those building next-gen autonomous systems.




Know of an important event we missed? We’d love to hear about it!

Drop us a line at hi@self-employed.at and we’ll consider adding it to the calendar.


Want your company’s events featured in upcoming roundups? Get in touch about our SEA Media Partnership opportunities and learn how to reach Austria’s self-employed and entrepreneurial community directly - send us an email: hi@self-employed.at!

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